Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of a Wedding Photographer

Photo by Rachel Sue Boehm of Rachel Sue Photography.

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event filled with precious moments and cherished memories. As you plan for this special occasion, one of the most crucial decisions is selecting the perfect wedding photographer to capture every heartfelt exchange and joyous celebration. To help you navigate this important aspect of wedding planning, we spoke to two incredible wedding photographers—Colton Simmons of Colton Simmons Photography and Rachel Sue Boehm of Rachel Sue Photography—who offered valuable insights into their approach, style, and expertise.

A Day in the Life

Photo by Colton Simmons of Colton Simmons Photography.

For many wedding photographers, the wedding day itself actually begins before they even arrive at their first location of the day. “My morning routine is spent prepping social media posts, where I shout out the couple’s wedding and share all the vendors working on their wedding,” Colton Simmons told us. “I also send out a customary text to the couple congratulating them on their wedding day, arriving and letting them know to text me if anything comes up before I arrive that I need to know.”

Colton then loads all his prepped gear into his car and heads to the bride, coordinating with his second photographer while setting expectations for their day. He then begins capturing images of the detailed items and the dress before taking photos of the tail end of hair and makeup, the rest of the getting ready process, and then, eventually, the ceremony or first look. For Rachel, her day starts very similarly, but “the remainder of the day's timeline always depends on the bride and groom and the route they'd like to take for their special day. Many couples now opt to have a ‘first look,’ where we can take any of the bridal party photos and maybe even some family photos prior to the ceremony. If they wish to go the ‘traditional’ route, we save the family and bridal party photos to directly follow the ceremony.”

For the cocktail hour and reception, he added, “I’ll capture golden hour photos with the couple before the reception if sunset is soon. Then, I’ll spend the rest of the night capturing all of the moments of the reception, from the first dance to the formalities and the dance floor.”

At the end of the day, he loads all his photo cards and back them to the cloud to prepare for previews the following day. For Rachel, “The ending of photographing can also vary, depending on the events planned. Some couples want to have a sparkler or bubble exit, while others will dance the night away, and we will end our night with all of the fun candids!”

Candid vs. Posed Shots

When capturing the perfect mix of candid and posed shots, Colton told us, “My approach starts before the wedding day. It’s about building rapport with the couple and understanding who they are. When I do that, I can ensure that I am approaching their personalities and the things that make them who they are.” He continued, “I always like to continue to prompt couples through ‘poses’ and continue to keep motion so they aren’t staying stagnant. Once they are still too long, the photos can start feeling posed.”

Rachel added, “As an elopement specialist for over 10 years, I have found that ‘unposed’ posing is the best strategy for capturing the true emotion between the couple. This includes lots of movement and interaction, rather than standing and posing together.” She also pointed out how photographers must remember that their subjects aren't models and may not be 100% comfortable posing for shots; thus, unposed and candid, natural photos often work very well for weddings.

Interacting with the Wedding Party and Guests

Wedding photography is as much about people as it is about capturing moments. “I get the vibes to feel like I am the plus one at the wedding party. If I hear someone give someone a nickname, I’ll jokingly use it when it comes time for photos to get genuine laughs and smiles out of the party,” Colton divulged.

“Interacting with the wedding party and guests is one of the most fun parts of a wedding day for me!” Rachel told us enthusiastically. “But as I have a job to do, I also need to be aware that the couple would like certain photos. It helps to clearly communicate your expectations and just tell the party what photos you want, and where they should be. Most people are very happy to let the photographer take the lead on this! It also helps if the couple has a list of particular photos that they'd like, which is something I encourage them to share when we have preparation meetings before the big day.”

To help guests feel comfortable, Rachel explained that one of the best strategies is to “incorporate some movement into the images, which allows them to show off their unique personalities and helps them to forget that they are on camera.”

Adapting Photography Style

Every wedding is unique, and your photographer should be able to adapt their style to suit your preferences and the type of wedding you're planning. Colton explained that he always considers the couple's requests and preferences, prefacing that he will put my own personal spin on them. “They should expect it to fit in with the aesthetics that I usually produce with my work within the realms of what they are asking for. I will not change my editing or shooting style to meet their requests, but I will take the creative direction when photographing it.”

Rachel takes a slightly different approach. “If couples want a specific pose or image taken, communication is key,” she pointed out. “One question I always ask is if they have any ‘inspiration’ for photos that are important to them. Many would-be brides use Pinterest to help with their wedding planning, and may have found a fun, or sentimental image they may want incorporated into their day. If it allows more comfort for you me as a photographer, or the bride or groom, I ask them to make a list or share the specific images with me.”

Handling Requests and Preferences

Communication is key to meeting your wedding photography expectations. Colton noted that when it comes to taking requests, “I will let them know that I always appreciate their suggestions, but they are hiring me as their photographer because my portfolio of work resonates with them. I am always willing to take preferences on photos they’ve seen on Instagram and Pinterest, but if they don’t fully align with how I shoot, I may pass on including shots like that in the final gallery.”

Rachel said, “For final images, a couple can select their favourite images to create a beautiful album at the end. I have found it easiest to have an online gallery where they may create a ‘favourites list’ and use the images they have selected. I allow them to decide the cover and colour scheme, but I will also offer my thoughts for unsure couples who feel like they need some guidance.”

Essential Questions to Ask

Finally, ask about the most important questions a couple should ask a photographer before hiring them. Inquire about their experience, availability, pricing, and packages to ensure they fit your needs.

Colton suggests asking potential wedding photographers questions such as:

“Can you share examples of your work that is similar to what we are looking for?” This is a good assessment of their experience and whether or not they will be able to deliver what you are looking for.
“How long will it take to receive our final gallery, and how will they be delivered?” Making sure your photographer can set expectations and deliver upon them is essential. Having this assurance before you’ve signed a contract with them is crucial.
“What kind of rights do we have with our photographs, and are there any restrictions on sharing and printing them?” It’s crucial to know what services you are signing up for. Some photographers charge you to shoot the wedding and then will charge you to purchase rights for photographs afterward. You want to be fully aware of their procedures regarding your final deliverables.

Rachel had additional suggestions for questions to ask a potential wedding photographer, including:

“How many weddings have you photographed?” You may also want to know if they have a particular style, so looking at their portfolio on their website would be a good idea, too. After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you want to love the end results to look back on for years to come.
“Have you ever shot indoors?” Wedding photography is so varied in locations on the day, that they should be experienced with many different lighting conditions. They should be experienced in bright, harsh, and dark lighting, as wedding days typically have a lot of different settings where using flash or additional lighting is necessary.
“Do you have insurance?” Some venues only allow for insured photographers, which would immediately rule them out as an option if they are not insured. Holding the relevant insurance is also a giveaway that the person is a professional, not moonlighting or set up as a ‘side gig.’
“Would you be willing to meet in person before the wedding day?” Feeling comfortable and confident in your photographer will help you get the best images, capturing the most emotion and showing off your personalities together. To help with this, you should aim to meet up with your photographer, in person, in advance of the big day. Many couples I work with choose to book an engagement photo session with me first, which helps us get to know each other and makes a much more relaxing experience on the wedding day.

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By learning about what goes into wedding photography and asking these essential questions to gain valuable insights into each photographer's approach, style, and expertise, you'll be well-equipped to make an informed decision that ensures your wedding day memories are beautifully preserved for years to come.

Remember, your wedding photographer plays a crucial role in capturing the essence of your special day, so choose wisely and trust your instincts!